About Us

Why We Teach

We plant seeds of hope in the hearts of children because we believe that life-giving education can change the future of Southeast Asia

Why We Love

We love because God first love us. It is this love that compels us to go to remote areas to start schools, care for orphans and serve those in need.

Why They Lead

We believe in the importance of local leadership; therefore, we train and equip indigenous youth with the necessary tools to help their society flourish.

Our History

In 1969, Mrs. Lillian Dickson opened and dedicated a Vocational Training Institute and a chapel in Taiwan. These were additions to Mustard Seed’s existing Rescue Home for boys. “People will be our kind of work,” she explained. As she watched the beaming children march from the Vocational Building to the Chapel, she reflected: “This is the pathway of Hope”.

Through her ministry in Taiwan, a woman named Chi-oang came to saving faith in Christ, one of only two people in her people group to do so at that time. It was God at work through an unlikely student: an old, tattooed woman, who didn’t look like a powerful minister of the gospel. After some Bible training, wherever Chi-oang went, she taught. Feeble and old though she was, she taught the good news of the Gospel, and God reaped his reward through her as He unleashed Pentecost in the hills.

Since then, Mustard Seed has expanded to other areas of Southeast Asia and continues to focus on building education programs. Through the schools we start, staff, and operate, we provide hope to our students, teachers, and the communities they live in. The education, training and discipleship they receive nourishes their hearts and minds. In every classroom and children’s home we run, we teach in words and deeds about our greatest Hope. Driven by that Hope, teaching is our small act of worship.

Holding strongly to Lilian's legacy, we are focused on training and empowering indigenous leaders after God’s own heart. Currently, almost all of our sites are led by local leaders. We’re aiming much bigger – we established an innovative teacher and leadership training program to exponentially increase the number of local leaders who will be equipped to serve communities all over their nation. It is through this generation that the mustard seeds we’re planting will grow into something Christ-sized big!